Angry about Office Depot recycling program

[disneysteve]

For some time, Office Depot has had a program to recycle ink jet and laser printer cartridges. The deal is that you bring in a used cartridge. They recycle it and give you a ream of recycled copy paper in return. It keeps the cartridges out of the landfills and scores you free paper.

Well, I've regularly been taking my empty cartridges there and getting my free paper. I went this week with another cartridge. The cashier took one look at it and said, "Epson cartridges don't qualify for the recycling program." I asked, "Since when. I've always brought them here before." According to her, they have never accepted them because they can't be refilled. The manager happened to be nearby and I called her over. She said the same thing. I explained that I've been bringing them in regularly and getting paper each time but she said that must have been a mistake.

I guess they just suddenly started enforcing the policy. I just got annoyed since it was never a problem before.

So if any of you have Epson printers, be aware that your local Office Depot may not accept the cartridges for recycling. There was one other brand she mentioned also. I'm not positive but I think it was Lexmark.

 

[jmmom80]

funny you should mention being annoyed with office depot - i was fit to be tied with them today. i had ordered the kids' school supplies on-line from od, and then called to cancel the order (we had been sent the wrong list). they said they couldn't cancel the order, to just take it back to any od location and they would credit my charge card. i finally got a chance to take it today, and it was a nightmare! i figured they would just verify the contents against the shipping receipt (the box had not even been opened until i went to od today) and credit the full amount. no, not that easy. each item had to be rung separately, some items were now on sale, so they had to manually enter those, some items they didn't carry, so they couldn't refund, etc. it took almost 45 minutes to complete the transaction.

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by jmmom80
i figured they would just verify the contents against the shipping receipt (the box had not even been opened until i went to od today) and credit the full amount. no, not that easy. each item had to be rung separately, some items were now on sale, so they had to manually enter those, some items they didn't carry, so they couldn't refund, etc. it took almost 45 minutes to complete the transaction.

This is one of those unfortunate consequences of our computerized society. In the years BC (before computers), if you brought in an item to return, they took it from you and gave you your money back. Or if you wanted to make an even exchange (different size pants, for example), you went to the rack, got the ones you wanted, brought them to the register with the wrong ones and your receipt, and off you went.

Today, every aspect of the sale and inventory is fully computerized and the staff can't do a darn thing without entering every step into the system as you described. I've encountered similar problems. The cashiers, even the managers, are not allowed to use their brains or common sense to service a customer quickly and efficiently.

 

[disneysteve]

Sorry - double post.

 

[Disfan1]

This is why I shop at OfficeMax... the customer service at office Depot stinks!